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The Adirondack Phantoms played their 38th game Monday to reach
the season's halfway point. And while that game would better be
forgotten sooner rather than later, the first half of the season
was easily the most promising of the team's three seasons in Glens
Falls.

The Phantoms are 20-16-1-1 and are tied for second in the
Northeast Division. By comparison, they were 10-26-2-0 at this
point last season and 18-18-2-0 the one before.

So in honor of a first half worth savoring, let's take a look
back at some of the highs and lows and where this all might be
headed.

Best moment: Shane Harper's overtime goal in
the Outdoor Classic.

Forget for a moment the stage - Citizens Bank Park and a crowd
of more than 45,000 - and the historic opponent. The way they won,
scoring in the final minute to force overtime and then winning
there, is the kind of confidence builder that can propel a team to
big things.

Since then, the Phantoms have played with an offensive swagger
they lacked for much of the season.

Biggest disappointment: The Civic Center video
boards.

In fairness, I supported the purchase, which was a joint venture
between the city, Warren County, the Phantoms owners and the Civic
Center Foundation. There were a lot of smart people involved in the
decision and before they spent $450,000 (which includes the
much-needed sound system) someone should have figured out if the
equipment they bought actually worked.

The screens are far too dim and low resolution to make out
anything of value when they show hockey action.

I realize state-of-the-art equipment wasn't in the price range,
but if this was all those entities could afford, then they'd have
been better off not spending the money.

Everyone said this was an important step toward landing a
permanent hockey tenant because of the revenue streams they
provide. But what happens when those prospective teams actually
turn the boards on?

First-half MVP: It'd be hard to look anywhere
else than the player who won it last season.

Captain Ben Holmstrom is the one guy the team can't afford to
lose. He's second on the team in goals, plays on the power play and
is one of the best penalty killers. When there's an important
defensive zone draw, Holmstrom often comes out to take it even if
it's not his line on the ice.

As the captain, Holmstrom has played an edgier game this season.
He has 81 penalty minutes in 34 games compared to 75 in 79 last
season. He's often been the guy who steps in to defend teammates
when liberties are taken.

No one contributes as much in so many areas. Easy to forget he's
only 24 and in his second full season.

Impact rookie: Jason Akeson.

It's impressive enough that Akseon leads the team in scoring.
But even more promising is the way he's handled himself as a point
on the top power-play unit, a responsibility not lightly handed to
rookies. We've seen a lot of high-scoring players from juniors
struggle to make the transition into the AHL the last couple of
seasons. Akeson has broken the mold.

Pleasant surprise: Rookie forward Garrett Roe,
signed on a minor-league deal, is fourth on the team in points and
has played every game. He's outperformed other well-regarded
prospects on two-way deals.

Due for a breakout: After scoring 17 goals in
his last 41 games last season, forward Mike Testwuide has six in
his first 35 games to start this season. Encouragingly, he has five
goals since Dec. 28 and has again looked like the dominant force
around the net he was at the end of last season.

Biggest storyline: Player movement and
injuries.

After two years of little activity, the Phantoms were hit hard
by call-ups to Philadelphia and not just the guys you'd expect. Zac
Rinaldo, Harry Zolnierczyk, Erik Gustafsson and Marc-Andre Bourdon
have all appeared to graduate to the Flyers full-time.

The Phantoms have also lost Oskars Bartulis, Eric Wellwood and
Garrett Klotz to injuries for significant stretches of time.

Mild surprise: Michael Leighton's one shutout.
The veteran goaltender has been very good for the most part, but
after posting five shutouts in 30 games last season and being one
of the league's all-time leaders in that category, you might expect
him to have more than one at this point in the season.

A couple of late goals spoiled shutouts for Leighton earlier in
the season.

Best fighter: Tye McGinn. The rookie has earned
respect by taking on veterans like Zack FitzGerald and Tim Conboy
and earning appreciative gestures from both. The guy can take a
punch and keep hammering right on back. On a team without a
traditional enforcer, it's good to see McGinn stepping up when
needed.

Most overlooked story: Johan Backlund's sudden
departure after a game on Jan. 4 to play in Finland hardly gave us
a chance to say goodbye to one of the team's longest-tenured and
most popular players.

Though he only played once his final season, the affable Swede
should be remembered for his MVP season in 2009-10, when the team
fell off a cliff and lost 11 of their final 13 after he was called
up to the Flyers.

Backlund had a chance to become the Flyers' No. 1 before
persistent injuries dropped him to No. 3 on Adirondack's depth
chart. He handled it all with class throughout, earning his
high-stature in the locker room and among the fans.

Best quote: "I've seen that. In golf. With a
nine-iron." - Coach Joe Paterson, reacting to Denis Hamel's
game-winning goal on Jan. 13 against Hamilton that went off the
goalie, off the glass, off the top of the net and then back off the
goalie, before going in the net.

Best quote (runner-up): "I just talked to Joe
(Paterson) and he was like, ‘Were you a little bit nervous?' And I
said ‘Well, yeah, a little bit. But if you need me out there again
I'll go for it.' I had no idea what I was going to do. I just put
it on net and it went in, thank God." - Forward Tyler Brown,
reacting to his game-winning goal in the 12th round of a shootout
against Portland after not playing for most of the third
period.

Toughest loss: Portland's 2-1 win at the Civic
Center on Dec. 9.

The Phantoms had already lost two in a row in the final minute.
What could be worse? How about giving up a shorthanded goal with 20
seconds left in regulation.

One night after the Portland disaster, losing their fourth
straight in late, dramatic fashion could have been crippling.

Most unsung player: Jon Kalinski.

The longest-tenured Phantoms player has blocked an incredible
number of shots with his body. Every time, I wonder if he's going
to get up, but he always does. With just five goals in 28 games,
Kalinski doesn't get a lot of ink, but he's a huge part of a
penalty kill that's seventh in the league and had a seven-game
streak without allowing a goal earlier in the season.

Tim McManus may be reached at tmcmanus@poststar.com. Follow
him on Twitter (@PSPhantoms). Read his Phantoms Forum blog online
for daily updates.

Copyright 2015 Glens Falls Post-Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(1) Comments

Dead on with your assessment of Kalinski. It seems like every game the kid takes at least one shot that looks like something HAS to be broken. And he comes back on his next shift like the Energizer Bunny. I admit that I was skeptical last fall after the Maroon episode, but Jon has proven that he is a true pro. He does the dirty work and has been a key cog in a good Phantoms season so far.

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